Supports for window sashes

ABSTRACT

A window sash and frame, wherein the sash is pivotally supported to the frame at the four corners thereof, whereby selective pivots may be disengaged to allow the window to pivot about two adjacent pivots.

[151 3,i nM

[ Mai. M, 1972 References Cited [54] SUPPORTS FOR WINDOW SASHES [72] inventor: Michael ]P. Ettridge, 29 Longview FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Crescent, OHalloran lliliii, Australia 5158 Aug. 24, 1970 Appl. No.: 66,355

6,600,145 7/1966 Netherlands.............................49/192 [22] Filed:

Primary Examineri(enneth Downey Att0meyi(inzer, Dorn and Zickert 7] ABSTRACT A window sash and frame, wherein the sash is [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 28, 1969 Australia...................................

60186 pivotally supported to the frame at the four corners thereof, whereby selec- -49/192 tive pivots may be disengaged to allow the window to pivot about two adjacent pivots.

2 B 5 In d M E [51] lint. [58] Field ofSearch.....

i Cllaims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB MAR 14 I972 SHEET t UF 5 SUPPORTS FOR WINDOW SASlllES This invention relates to the supporting window sashes in window frames.

It is a problem that at present most window sashes are held in means which allow only one method of opening or closing, these extending from the very simple method of sliding the sash up and down within restricted guides or to more elaborate method incorporating such mechanisms as hinged links to allow the window to extend out into an outer area. There are also arrangements known as hopper windows but as stated previously in each case the method of operation of each of these windows is very narrowly restricted.

It is an object of this invention to provide means which are effective and simple by which a window can be opened in two or more directions so as to take account of for instance the direction of the wind to either ensure that this is not entering the house, or if desired is directed into the house. On other occasions it may be desirable to provide upward venting for the window to allow for instance a stuffy room to be quickly cleared of hot air, or on other occasions it may be desirable to open a window so that its lower edge extends out from the confining frame, for instance when it is raining, but where ventilation is still required.

A further object is to provide means whereby a window can be hinged about vertical axis so that both sides of the window may easily be cleaned from inside the building.

A further object is to provide means to pivotally support a closure member in a surrounding frame.

These objects are overcome by providing means for securing a closure member to a surrounding frame, by the provision of pivoting means at at least three corners of the member, whereby one or more of the pivots may be disengaged to allow pivoting of the member about two adjacent engaged pivots. In the case of each corner having such a pivotable attachment, by releasing any two adjacent attachments it is possible to swing the member into an open position around any four axes generally defined by the sides of the surrounding frame.

The invention need not be limited to rectangular windows.

It would be preferred to allow movement in two or three directions only in two such movement can be controlled by means positioned in each location to ensure that two adjacent attachments are locked against withdrawal during each movement.

In a preferred form it is desired that the movement is allowed in three directions, but of course modifications could be made to include two or more movements.

A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of the invention showing a window sash mounted in a frame, the frame being cut away for clarity,

FIG. 2 is a view of an upper corner of the window of FIG. l in partly open position, showing the construction of the window sash,

FIG. 3 is a view of an upper corner of the window of FIG. ll showing the frame construction,

FIG. 4 is a view of the receiving block shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the method of operation of the window in the first embodiment,

FIG. 6 is a partly sectioned view of a second embodiment of the window sash,

FIG. 7 is a section of the window along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a view of the mounting of the segmental spherical member to the window frame,

FIG. 9 is a view of the receiving block, and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the sash for explanatory purposes.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the window sash 1 is mounted in a frame 2. On the top and bottom of the frame 2 are mounted segmental spherical members 3, which are spherical balls having segments removed therefrom, so that in cross-section the member is in the form of a cross. At each location of the member 3 the top and bottom of the frame 2 has a cut-out portion 7, the member 3 being mounted by its threaded stem 3 to an angled member 9 on the frame 2. Alternatively the member 3 could be bolted directly to the frame.

On each frame corner of the sash there is mounted a receiving block 5 each adapted to receive the member 3. As shown in FIG. 4 each block is formed with an opening 6 shaped in the form of a cross with arms 6a and 6b to receive the member 3 with a close fit, the interior of the opening 6 being spherical so that, as described later the window sash I may pivot about there member 3 to open position.

The blocks 5 in its operative face, has formed therein two horizontal slots 10 and 11 joined at their centers by vertical slot 12 thus forming the figure H.

The H shaped slot 110, 11 and 12 slidably receives a pin 13 mounted on a sliding frame 14. It will be appreciated that as each corner is constructed similarly the sliding frame M extends completely around the sash and thus the frame may be slid horizontally along two different levels determined by slots 10 and 11 and slid vertically by virtue of slot 12.

The frame is so positioned and so dimensioned that movement of the frame determines along which axis the, window sash may pivot. Thus in the position shown in FIG. 2 in solid lines the pin 13 is adjacent the left hand end of the lower slot 11. In this position the upper left hand edge of the frame 14 will protrude across the vertical slot 6a of the block 5 while the lower left hand corner will be positioned to partly protrude across upper part of 6a and the right hand part of slot 6b of the block 5 in that comer. At the upper right hand side the frame will be clear of both slots, being positioned in the lower left hand segment of member 3, while the frame at the lower right hand side will clear the left hand side of the slot 6b. This situation is shown in FIG. 5b where the window sash may be swung to an opening position, the members 3 pivoting in the spherical interior of the blocks 5 on the left hand side of the sash, the members 5 on the right hand side passing through the slots 6a and 6b.

When the sliding frame 14 is moved horizontally to the right with the pin 13 sliding to the right hand end of slot II as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the vertical slots 6a on the right hand side will be covered, while the vertical slots 6a on the left hand upper side will be exposed, the corner of the frame being positioned in the lower right hand segment of member 3, while on the upper left hand side the frame will clear the horizontal slot 612. In this position the window will pivot about the right hand side as illustrated in FIG. 5a.

When the sliding frame is moved to a central position that is pin 13 is central of slot ill and below slot 12, the window is locked to the frame will protrude across some portions of one or both slots 60 and 6b at each corner of the sash.

If now the sliding frame 14 is moved upwardly so that pin 13 slides up the slot 12 into the central position of slot 10, the lower corners of the frame will be positioned in the upper inside segments of the members 3 at the bottom, and the upper comers will protrude partly across the apertured slots 6a and the horizontal slot 6b at the upper ends of the sash. In this position, as shown in FIG. 50, the sash will be pivoted about its upper end to operate as a hopper window.

It will be realised that the slot lll, on the upper ends of the sash will not be used, but the block is formed in this manner for when the pin 13 slides in the slot II at the upper end of the sash, the corresponding pins 13 will slide in the slots 10 at the bottom of the sash, due to the fact that the blocks 5 at the bottom of the sash are mounted upside down to that depicted in FIG. 2 and as shown in FIG. I.

To operate the sliding frame 14 suitable levers 15 are rigidly attached to the sliding frame to protrude towards the interior of the room in which the window ismounted, the levers 15 operating in a horizontal and vertical slot to give the required movement to the sliding frame 14.

To control the degree of opening of the window, and to secure it in an opened position a hand operated screw is situated in the bottom of the window between the center of the bottom of the sash and the center of the frame. This is provided with a degree of pivotal movement, and it will be seen that no matter which form of opening is required the screw will open and close the window to the desired extent.

The sash may be formed in any desired manner, but as illustrated in FIG. 2 it may comprise a channel shaped member 17 in which the sliding frame 14 is mounted, the blocks being mounted at the corners and rigidly joining the channel members together. Cover strips 18, 19 and 20 enclose the channel member 17 to give a pleasing appearance, and the glass 21 may be mounted therein in any suitable manner.

The sash may be made of any suitable material, such as metal. Plastic coated metal members, or aluminum can be used to give a corrosion resistance and maintenance free assembly.

A second embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to of the drawings, wherein the sash 1 is mounted in a frame 2 in a manner to be described. In this embodiment the rectangular sliding frame of the previous embodiment is dispensed with, and instead the sash is slidably mounted in the frame 2 to slide horizontally to three different positions.

As in the previous embodiment the frame supports four segmented spherical members 3. The member 3 are formed with a square shank 22 and a threaded portion 23, and are mounted to a mounting plate 24. Plate 24 is provided with a boss 25 containing an annular recess 26 a diameter of the recess being in excess of the diagonal of the square shank 23. A locking plate 27 having a cut out to snuggley fit the squared shank 22 is locked in position by a stud 28. The mounting plate 24 is attached by screws 29 to the sash through elongated holes 30, thus allowing the'mounting plate 24 and member 23 to be adjustably mounted thereon, the member 3 being locked against rotation by plate 27 after adjustment.

The sash l is of hollow section, having apertures 31 formed therein in the top and bottom members of the sash (see FIGS. 6 and 10). Slidably positioned within the top and bottom members of the sash are four receiving blocks 32, one for each corner of the sash, being dimensioned to slide within the top and bottom members. The blocks are formed with a cross shaped aperture 33 in one face, one am of the cross opening into a slot 34 in an adjoining face, the interior of the block having a cavity of spherical section 35 to fit the member 3.

Preferably the block is formed in two halves, the two halves being pinned together before assembly into the sash frame.

T Ty in tflq. .9 a. s e e ipt i! of t nit .of the device will now be given. For ease of description the openings 31 and relative dimensions as spacing thereof are divided into subdivisions or units. Assuming that the member 3 is of three units wide at the horizontal arm of the cross section, it will be seen that due to the shape of the apertures at the top face of the sash and similar apertures at the bottom of the sash, that as the members 3 are fixed to the frame 2, and the member 3 engages in the sliding blocks 32, that the sash may be slid relative to the frame 2. In FIG. 10 the centers of the members 3 are indicated as dots, and in the position shown it will be seen that as the shanks 22 are one unit wide, the sash may be pivoted about the top to open out as a hopper window. For illustrative purposes positions of the three members are top left hand comer position number 4% top right hand corner position number 4% lower left hand corner position number 4% lower right hand comer position number 4 /3.

If now the sash is slid to the right so that the positions are top left hand corner 3% top right hand comer 3% lower left hand comer 3% lower right hand corner 3%, it will be seen that the sash can pivot about the left hand side, the members 3 on the right being able to pass through the apertures, while the members 3 on the left hand side being restrained and unable to pass through the apertures.

Similarly, if the sash is slid to its position to the left whereby the members 3 occupy the positions top left hand comer 5% top right hand comer 5% lower left hand corner 5% lower right hand comer 5%, the window will open by pivoting about the right hand side. Thus it will be seen that by simple movement of the sash itself the window is positioned to open in the desired manner.

A suitable opening and closing mechanism 16 such as illustrated in FIG. 1, could be used also in this embodiment. The glass can be mounted in the sash l in any suitable manner, and of course adequate seals are provided between the sash l and the frame 2.

It will be appreciated, that with the present invention, that as soon as the sash is pivoted about its respective pivots, due to the shape of the members 3, these members, acting as pivots will be securely locked in position, the members 3 and the shanks 22 being turned relative to the blocks 32, so that they are securely held.

When held in the manner described the sash will be able to rotate around any of three axes, the axes of course being defined by a line passing through the center of the respective hinge members.

Various modifications may be made to the window and sash assembly as described in the preferred embodiments and of course it is intended that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms therein described.

Thus, although the invention has been described with particular reference to the mounting of a window sash in a frame, the invention is not to be limited thereto, but also includes in its wider scope, the mounting of any closure member in a surrounding frame, e.g., doors, and other closure members wherein it is desired to pivot the closure member about more than one side.

What I claim is:

1. A window comprising a window frame, a window sash pivotally mounted therein, a disengageable pivot mounted between the sash and the frame at the top and bottom thereof adjacent each side thereof, and means to disengage the respective pivots so that the sash may pivot about each side thereof or pivot about the top thereof, wherein each pivot comprises a segmental spherical member fixedly attached to the frame and engageable in a spherical recess formed in the sash, each entrance to each spherical recess being shaped to correspond to the segmental spherical member to allow passage of the member into the recess.

2. A window as defined in claim 1, wherein a slidable control frame extends around the sash adjacent the entrances to the recesses, whereby adjustment of the frame permits selective covering an uncovering of the entrances of the recesses.

3. A window as defined in claim 1, wherein each spherical recess is formed in a receiving block slidable in the sash.

4. A window as defined in claim 1, wherein the sash is slidable in the frame, and each entrance in the sash is so proportioned that upon selective sliding of the sash relative to the frame, the desired segmental spherical members may be retained in the spherical recess in the receiving blocks, or allow to pass through both entrances, to allow the desired pivoting of the sash relative to the frame.

i i i l 

1. A window comprising a window frame, a window sash pivotally mounted therein, a disengageable pivot mounted between the sash and the frame at the top and bottom thereof adjacent each side thereof, and means to disengage the respective pivots so that the sash may pivot about each side thereof or pivot about the top thereof, wherein each pivot comprises a segmental spherical member fixedly attached to the frame and engageable in a spherical recess formed in the sash, each entrance to each spherical recess being shaped to correspond to the segmental spherical member to allow passage of the member into the recess.
 2. A window as defined in claim 1, wherein a slidable control frame extends around the sash adjacent the entrances to the recesses, whereby adjustment of the frame permits selective covering and uncovering of the entrances of the recesses.
 3. A window as defined in claim 1, wherein each spherical recess is formed in a receiving block slidable in the sash.
 4. A window as defined in claim 1, wherein the sash is slidable in the frame, and each entrance in the sash is so proportioned that upon selective sliding of the sash relative to the frame, the desired segmental spherical members may be retained in the spherical recess in the receiving blocks, or allow to pass thrOugh both entrances, to allow the desired pivoting of the sash relative to the frame. 